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Skriven 2005-06-30 23:33:00 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0506308) for Thu, 2005 Jun 30
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Fighting Malaria in Africa
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 30, 2005

Fighting Malaria in Africa



>The toll of malaria is even more tragic because the disease itself is
highly treatable and preventable. Yet this is also our opportunity, because
we know that large-scale action can defeat this disease in whole regions.
And the world must take that action. Next week at the G-8, I will urge
developed countries and private foundations to join in a broad, aggressive
campaign to cut the mortality rate for malaria across African in half._

-- President George W. Bush
June 30, 2005

FACT SHEET

Today's Action
  þ Today, President Bush challenged the world to dramatically reduce
    malaria as a major killer of children in sub-Saharan Africa and pledged
    to increase funding of malaria prevention and treatment by more than
    $1.2 billion over five years. The goal is to reduce malaria deaths by
    50 percent in targeted African countries.
  þ The additional funding provided by the United States will eventually
    benefit more than 175-million people in 15 or more African countries.
    This commitment to expand malaria prevention and treatment programs in
    Africa is in addition to the $200 million the U.S. spends today on
    malaria prevention, treatment, and research worldwide.
  þ This initiative, in combination with a similar program announced by the
    Bill _
  þ The President calls on other donors, foundations, and private, public,
    and voluntary organizations to complement the United States commitments
    by providing additional funding.

Combating Malaria and Improving Lives
  þ While malaria is both preventable and treatable if addressed properly
    and quickly, this disease is one of the greatest threats to human
    health and economic welfare on earth. Each year, malaria kills almost
    1.2 million people, with the vast majority of victims being young
    children in Africa. Estimated yearly economic loss due to malaria is
    about $12 billion, accounting for a crippling 1.3 percent annual loss
    in GDP growth in endemic countries.
  þ The more than $1 billion additional funding announced today will be
    used over the next five years to prevent and treat malaria in targeted,
    highly-endemic sub-Saharan African countries. Funding for this
    comprehensive initiative will include:
      þ $30 million to launch the initiative in Tanzania, Uganda, and
        Angola in 2006;
      þ $135 million to expand work in the initial three countries and to
        launch the program in additional countries in 2007;
      þ $300 million additional to continue work in those countries already
        selected and to launch efforts in additional countries in 2008;
      þ $300 million in 2009; and
      þ Increasing to $500 million in 2010 with a goal of benefiting a
        total of 175 million people.
  þ The Gates Foundation committed $35 million to support malaria programs
    with other partners in Zambia. Marathon Oil Corporation with Noble
    Energy, Inc. and other partners have committed $8.3 million for Bioko
    Island, Equatorial Guinea.
  þ With the combined efforts of all partners and national governments, the
    program would save hundreds of thousands of lives annually, meeting the
    Roll Back Malaria mortality goal for target countries.
  þ These results will be accomplished by helping national governments
    achieve 85 percent coverage among vulnerable or high-risk populations
    with proven and effective prevention and treatment interventions.
  þ The Initiative will scale up a comprehensive approach to malaria by
    combining proven and effective interventions for prevention and
    treatment that will:
      þ Expand access to long-lasting insecticide treated nets and indoor
        residual spraying with approved insecticides.
      þ Treat malaria through the prompt use of new artemisinin-based
        combination therapies or other effective therapies which are
        internationally accepted treatments. These drugs will be made
        available through public and private sector outlets in target
        countries and be supported by information and education campaigns
        to improve care seeking and access.
      þ Address malaria in pregnancy. Each year more than 30-million
        African women living in malaria-endemic areas become pregnant and
        are at risk for malaria infections, contributing to low birth
        weight and deaths among infants.
  þ The United States will work in partnership with host country
    governments in Africa building on existing national programs. This
    initiative will also support the efforts of the Global Fund, the World
    Bank, Roll Back Malaria, and other donors.

The Initiative will support national programs and strategies for malaria,
in collaboration with the Global Fund. This Initiative will procure drugs
and other commodities and support logistics, management, communication, and
training. The Initiative will also include comprehensive monitoring and
evaluation, targeted operational research to improve on-the-ground
implementation, and detailed reporting on inputs, outcomes, results, and
impact.

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